Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Assembling of ourselves together, х episunagoogeen (G1997)] - is only found here and 2 Thessalonians 2:1 (the gathering together of the elect to Christ at His coming, Matthew 24:31). The assembling of ourselves for Christian communion is an earnest of our being gathered together to Him at His appearing. Union is strength: continual assemblings beget and foster love, and give opportunities for 'provoking to good works,' by "exhorting one another" (Hebrews 3:13). Ignatius, 'When ye frequently and in numbers meet together, the powers of Satan are overthrown, and his mischief is neutralized by your likemindedness in the faith.' To neglect such assemblings might end in apostasy. [He avoids synagoge, as suggesting the Jewish synagogue meetings (cf. Revelation 2:9).]
As the manner of some is, х ethos (G1485)] - custom. This gentle expression proves he is not as yet speaking of apostasy. The day approaching. This shortest designation of the Lord's coming occurs only in 1 Corinthians 3:13: confirming the Pauline authorship of this letter. The Church being in all ages uncertain how soon Christ is coming, the day is, in each age, practically always near; whence believers are called on always to be watching for it as nigh at hand. The Hebrews were now living close upon one great type and foretaste of it-the destruction of Jerusalem (Matthew 24:1-51), 'the bloody and fiery dawn of the great day, the day of days, the ending day of all days, the settling day of all days, the day of the promotion of time into eternity, the day which, for the Church, breaks off the night of the present world' (Delitzsch in Alford).